How many characters? Age? Sex? Status?

Anthony Hope: Late 20s, male, Sailor, lower class

Sweeney Todd: 40s, male, Barber, middle class,
Beggar Woman: Late 30s, female, Beggar, lowest class
Mrs. Lovett: 40s, female, Restaurateur, middle class
Judge Turpin: 50s, male, Judge, upper class
The Beadle: 40s, male, Judge’s assistant, middle class
Johanna: 20s, female, prisoner, upper class
Tobias Ragg: late teens, male, lower class (later middle class) 
Pirelli: 40s, male, barber, lower class
Jonas Fogg: 60s, male, middle class
The Company: all ages, mixed sex, lower and middle class

 

• What are the “gotta haves?” The only items absolutely essential for the show are Johanna’s sailor clothes. Also, the masks and capes necessary for the masquerade ball.
• Are there any special considerations? Blood from throat cuts spilling onto clothes, generalized grunge feel, freedom of movement for actors due to frantic pacing of show.
• What year is it? The year is the 19th century, it can’t be any earlier than 1803, as dated by the dates of transportation of convicts to Australia.
• What season is it? Winter and later, Spring.
• What time of day? All times of day,
• Where are we? Fleet Street, London. A traditionally lower class area, home to the popular press of London from the late 19th century onward. Named for London’s largest underground river which flows underneath it.
• Is there anything historically important happening at the time of the play? In the 19th century, the population of London went from 1 million to 6 million; A city with Irish, Jewish and heavy immigrant populations. The coming of the railroad lead to further grime and decay and urbanization, while the construction of sewers lead to a drop in disease and death. Construction projects such as Big Ben and Parliament were undertaken.
•  

Movie examples: what movies did you use to help you brainstorm?  Tell why. (TYPED)

Sweeney Todd: The Johnny Depp atrocity still helped with background characters, setting and  research of what they imagined the time period would look like, though it was much darker than imagined it would be.

Sherlock Holmes: A perhaps more realistic look at some of the upper class and middle class of the later time period. Dealing with some of the steampunk elements of the set and play.

The Prestige: Period research in and around London, costuming of lower and middle class.

The Man in the Iron Mask: More detailed historical research, dealing with imprisonment and  lower class society.

 

Scene Breakdown:
Prologue: The Ballad of Sweeney Todd
Act 1.1: No Place Like London, The Barber and his Wife
Act 1.2: Worst Pies in London, Poor Thing, My Friends

Act 1.3: Ballad Reprise 1
Act 1.4: Green Finch and Linnet Bird, Ah Miss, Johanna
Act 1.5: Pirelli’s Miracle Elixir, The Contest,
Act 1.6: Ballad Reprise 2
Act 1.7:  Wait, Pirelli’s Death
Act 1.8: Ballad Reprise 3
Act 1:9:  Judge’s Song: Mea Culpa, Kiss Me (Part 1), Ladies in their Sensitivities, Kiss Me (Part II/Quartet)
Act 1:10: Pretty Women (Parts 1 & 2), Epiphany, A Little Priest
Act 2:1 God, That’s Good!
Act 2:2 Johanna (Quartet)
Act 2:3 By the Sea, Wigmaker Sequence
Act 2:4 Now While I’m Around
Act 2:5 Parlor Sequence
Act 2:6: The Ballad of Sweeney Todd
Act 2:7 Fogg’s Asylum, City on Fire/Searching, Ah Miss, Beggar Woman’s Lullaby
Act 2:8 The Judge’s Return, Ballad of Sweeney Todd (Reprise 6) Final Scene
Epilogue: Reprise 7

 

 

	Act 1	Act 2	Additional Notes
Anthony	Black Sailor Pants White and Navy Stripe Shirt Black Sailor Tie Black Jacket Sailor Hat	Same	CHANGE TO GENTLEMAN FOR FOGG SCENE Grey Pants Black Brocade Vest Grey Frock Coat Ascot Dress Shirt Grey Gloves Grey Top Hat Boots
Sweeney	Ivory Distressed Shirt Grey Pants & Suspenders Socks Boots	White Collared Shirt Red/Grey/Black Pants & Suspenders Black/Red Brocade Vest Red Tie Ivory Barber Coat	ADD ON for outside scenes Black Overcoat
Lucy	Two Layer skirt Grey Petticoat Grey Socks Pantaloons Boots Greenish Blouse Two brown Shawls Straw Hat with Flowers Distressed Fingerless Gloves	Same
Mrs. Lovett	-Orange Stripe Skirt -Orange Distressed Overskirt -Apron -Green Blouse -Pantaloons -Boots/Socks	-Burgundy/ Black Bodice -Burgundy and Black Skirt -Black Bustle -Black Petticoat -Pantaloons -Jewelry -Black Hat -Boots/Socks	ADD ON for outside scenes Hat, Shawl, Gloves
Judge Turpin	Black DB Prince Albert Frock Coat Black Stripe Pants White Dress Shirt Ascot Grey Vest Black Top Hat Black Gloves	Judges Robe Added over Clothing	For Outdoor Scenes Black Cape Black Scarf   For Party FLASHBACK Remove Coat and Accessories ADD Burgundy Dressing Gown
The Beadle	Black and Rust Plaid Pants White Shirt Purple Vest Rust Tie Black and Plaid Cape Coat Black Derby Rust Gloves	Same	Same
Johanna	White Bustle Petticoat Peach Skirt Embroidered Overskirt Peach Bodice Straw and Pink Bonnet Ivory Boots	Nightgown Sheer Robe	Change After Rescue: Boy Sailor Suit Top and Pants Tie Hat Black Boots
Toby	Distressed Shirt Short Distressed pants Vest Tie Boots Socks Apple Hat	Brown Wool pants w/suspenders Tan Shirt Repeat Vest Green Coat Repeat Tie Repeat Hat Repeat Shoes
Pirelli	Blue and Yellow Plaid Tailcoat Blue and Yellow Plaid Pants Blue and Yellow Silk Vest Red and Paisley Necktie Repeat Tux Shirt Gold Cape Yellow Gloves Navy Top Hat with Yellow Binding	Same (Dead)
Mr. Fogg	Brown Pans with Suspenders Ivory Shirt Wool Vest Full Apron Distressed Fingerless gloves Scarf Boots Socks Brown Apple Cap	Add Tan Long Coat as Fogg	Masquerade Ball: Cape Mask
Female Company (Example)	Multi Colored Skirt White Cotton Petticoat Grey and Blue Blouse Grey Pinafore Apron Grey Shawl Yarn Shawl Grey Head Piece Navy Fingerless gloves Grey socks Black Boots		Masquerade Ball: Cape Mask   Asylum Sequence: Remove Skirt and Apron Add White Skirt
Male Company (Example)	Tan and Green Check Vest and Pants with Suspenders Distressed Henley Ivory Stripe Shirt ½ Apron Green Wool Jacket Brown Wool Scarf Tan Fingerless gloves Brown Distressed Top hat Socks Boots		Masquerade Ball: Add Matching Black & Mustard Vest Stripe Shirt Black Jacket Asylum Sequence: (Cop) Black Tunic Black Belt Black Pants Black Bobby Hat